Aliso Viejo-based Telogis Inc., which provides logistics software, is on a growth binge as it expands business across Europe and Latin America.
It has doubled revenue through the recession and projects another big year in 2011, which has so far seen its sales market grow to 60 countries.
“In a down economy, our business is booming,” said Telogis Chief Executive Dave Cozzens.
The company, which started in 2001, uses global positioning systems and software to help companies with large fleets of delivery trucks create better routes, track shipments and deliveries, and cut costs.
Its customers include the government, food and drink makers, oil and gas utilities and others. Big-name clients include Atlanta-based Coca-Cola Co. and Dallas-based AT&T Inc.
It has offices in Austin, Texas, Europe and Latin America, as well as a development center in New Zealand.
Cozzens credits his employees, whom he tags “A players,” for the company’s success in a very competitive market.
“You’ve got to hire good people with experience, give them strategic direction and allow them to get their jobs done,” he said. “We have to have an environment and culture that supports that.”
Telogis, which employs about 250 people companywide, ranked No. 6 in the medium-companies category in the Business Journal’s Best Places to Work list this week.
The list was compiled for the Business Journal by Harrisburg, Pa.-based Best Companies Group, an independent workplace researcher that managed the registration process (see Methodology, page 26).
“It’s an exciting and fun place to work, but people work very, very hard here,” Cozzens said.
The company does a lot of team-building and holds employee appreciation events, happy hours and other outings every month. Beach parties are common, and the company recently took staffers on a scavenger hunt across Newport Harbor.
Software engineers tend to work odd hours, so the fridge is fully stocked at all times. Lunches and dinners are often delivered.
Telogis likes to promote employees from within to management positions, another perk for hard workers.
Being a nimble company capable of switching gears in an instant has been a key to success, according to Cozzens.
“You need to move and execute very quickly,” he said. “It’s a core part of our business strategy.”
Telogis now has annual revenue of more than $33 million.
In 2010 the company was No. 14 on the Business Journal’s fast-growing companies list after growing sales 185% over two years.
